Valance, curtain and drapery fixture, and accessory



VALANCE, CURTAIN AND DRAPERY FIXTURE AND ACCESSORY Filed Nov. 12, 1947INVENTOR. w fl ed/z a rraiv/ri/sf Patented May 6, 1952 VALANCE, CURTAINAND DRAPERY FIXTURE, AND ACCESSORY Mary Nealis, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 12, 1947, Serial No. 785,459

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in window ornamentation of thetype including a valance, curtains and draperies and more particularlyrelates to an improved valance supporting structure which enables theuse of a simple tubular sleeve of fabric detachably mounted on thevalance support. This invention further concerns the combination of sucha valance with a drapery and curtain fixture attached to the bracketforming the support for the valance, the drapery fixture conforming inshape to the external shape of the valance to provide a pleasingdecorative appearance.

Heretofore valance constructions have commonly consisted of a solidbacking material to which the desired decorating fabric could beattached by standard and well known upholstering techniques. Suchconstructions are subject to many disadvantages, one of the moreimportant of which is that the installation requires the skilled laborof carpenters, upholsterers, etc., making the installation relativelyexpensive. A second disadvantage of valances of this type lies in theinability of the housekeeper to remove the decorating fabric from thevalance structure for purposes of cleaning, replacing, etc., withoutseriously damaging the fabric.

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide avalance bracket structure adapted to detachably receive a prefabricatedsimple tubular sleeve of decorating fabric and capable of beingdemountably secured to a window-type opening.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valance bracketstructure which is provided with means for demountably securing the sameto a window-type opening which readily allows the housewife to handlethe assembly as a unit and to envelopthe decorating fabric on theassembly at floor height and thereafter place the entire unit inposition.

A further object of this invention is to provide a window ornamentationhaving in combination a valance bracket structure adapted to be slidablyenveloped by a simple tubular decorative fabric, and a drapery andcurtain fixture detachably mounted on a single supporting means,the-drapery and curtain fixture having an external shape conforming tothat of the valance structure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive hanger bracket for securing avalance bracket structure and adrapery and curtain fixture in vertically spaced relationship.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will becomeapparent or will be specifically pointed out in the specification whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled valance bracketstructure and drapery and curtain fixture mounted in position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the valance bracket structure ofFigure 1 with the decorating fabric, draperies and curtains removedtherefrom;

Figure 3 is" a perspective view showing the drapery and curtain fixturein attachment with the combination hanger bracket; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing further details of the hangerbracket.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown in Figure 1 abox shape valance having an elongated rectangular shaped front panel land generally rectangular end panels 2 and?) which valance is adaptedfor mounting in front of a window-like aperture. Panels l, 2 and 3 areformed of a stretched decorative fabric and the valance is supported byarms 19 and 28 which are attached to hanger brackets 20 and 29respectively. Draperies 4 and 5 extend vertically downwardly from panelI and traverse the aperture approximately parallel to panel I. Thedraperies 4 and 5 conform in general to the shape of the valance as maybe seen by the drapery portion 6 extending rearwardly toward the wall inparallelism with panel 3. Positioned somewhat rearwardly of draperies 4and 5 is curtain l which forms the central portion of the apertureornamentation.

As may be seen in Figure 2, the valance skeleton is shown consisting ofa valance bracket structure, generally designated II], which comprises apair of bracket members and I2 having arms l3, l4, l5 and I6 connectedby telescoping rod or tube members H and I8. Bracket member H isprovided with an upper U-shaped member having a rod supporting'arm IS,an attachment arm I9 and a supporting portion 1 la which is the bightportion of the U-shaped member. An L- shaped member having arod-supporting arm I4 and a supporting portion 2! is positioned directlybeneath the upper U-shaped member and vertically spaced therefrom byrigid end plate'22. End plate 22 has a generally rectangular shape andis preferably fabricated from thin sheet metal inasmuch as its primarypurpose is to strengthen and reinforce supporting portions II and 2|. A

second purpose served by said plate 22 is to provide a closed endstructure which is pleasant in appearance in the absence of thedecorative covering fabric. Materials which are much weaker in tensionand shear may also be satisfactorily utilized, for example, cardboardwhich has been reinforced at its rearward edge 23 and forward edge 23a.Bracket I2 is similar in construction to that of bracket I I and it maybe clearly seen that end surface member 24 overlaps and extends aroundthe corners formed by the intersections of arm I5 and supporting portionI2a, arm I6 and supporting portion 25 thereby forming end facings 26 and21. It will be apparent that end facings 23, 23a, 26 and 2'! contributeto the provision of relatively smooth extensions of the supportingportions of brackets II and I2. The rounded corners thus formed enable asimple tubular valance of decorating fabric to be slid over the arm I9across end surface 22, continuously across tubular members I1 and I8,around bracket I2 and ending at end surface 26. A tubular valance formedof limp decorating material may alternatively be first slid over tubesI! and I8 in gathered form, after which brackets I I and I2 may betelescopically attached thereto and the gathered decorating fabriceasily slid over each of the brackets II and I2 to form a continuousvalance covering.

An unwrinkled and solid-appearing covering for the valance structure isproduced by longitudinally separating brackets II and I2 and positioningtheir supporting arms I9 arid 28 in hanger brackets 28 and 29respectively. Brackets II and I2 maintain the new positions continuouslystretching the fabric due to the friction between arms I9 and 28 and thehanger brackets 28 and 29. Two way stretching of the limp valancematerial is secured by fabricating the strengthening members 22 and 24of such vertical dimensions that the valance material forms a relativelytightfit therewith when slid into position. For extremely wide windowapertures which require elongated telescopic members I1 and I8, it isdesirable to reinforce them to prevent sagging and to maintain equalvertical spacing and this may be accomplished by positioning a spacer 38between members I! and I8 at approximately the median point of the span.

As may be seen in Figures 1 and 4, valance structure I8 may bedemountably attached to a supporting means in the form of a hangerbracket such as 28 and 29. Bracket 29 is provided with an upperattachment portion 3I' and a lower attachment portion 32 connected by anoutwardly projecting generally channel shaped portion 33. Projectingportion 33 is adapted to receive supporting arm 28 which may bepositioned therein either by sliding the supporting arm into therectangular *aperture degned by the outwardly projecting portion 33 andthe wall surface or by inserting the supporting arm 28 by sliding thesame along the wall, deflecting upper portion 3| and snapping the arminto the aperture 34. Obviously, in attaching valance structure I8 tothe hangers 28 and 29 only one arm I9 or 28 may be threaded into theaperture and the other arm must be snapped in from the top. The hangerbracket 29 may be suitably attached by means of screw positioned inapertures 35 and may, if necessary, have its upper portion 3I secured bya screw in aperture 36. Integrally connected to lower portion 32 isdownwardly depending drapery fixture securing portion 31 which has theform of a tightly-bent perpendicularly disposed U-shaped member havingouter return bent portion 38. Portion 31 may be and preferably ispositioned slightly outwardly from the plane of the wall, a distancesuch as that equal to the width of interconnecting generally horizontalportion 39.

Drapery and curtain supporting fixture 48 is comprised of a pair ofsimilar brackets 4| and 42 having the general box shape of valancestructure I0. Brackets 4i and 42 are comprised of corresponding partsbearing correspondingly primed numbers. Bracket 4| is comprised ofhorizontal supporting arm 43, outwardly projecting supporting portions44 and 45 and rod-supporting arms 46 and 4'! perpendicular to supportingarms 44 and 45 respectively. Supporting arm 44 has a length less thanthat of arm 45 such that rodsupporting arm 46 is positioned behind andspaced from rod-supporting arm 41. Brackets 4| and 42 are united intoone unitary structure by means of the tube members 48 and 49. It isapparent that draperies having the common type hem may be easily slidover each of brackets M and 42 and the tube members 48 and 49 thereafterinserted to form the drapery and curtain fixture 48. Drapery fixture 48is adapted to be attached to the U-shaped vertical extension of thehanger bracket defined by portions 31 and 38 by inserting member 43therein and thereafter lowering clip 58 therearound to provide a tightfit and insure against undesired disassembly. Clip 58 is comprised of anannular portion 5| adapted to surround members 31 and 38 and avertically depending nib portion 52 adapted to enable the readymanipulation of the clip.

The two position construction of the hanger bracket 23 enables thepositioning either of the drapery fixture 48 in the U shaped retainingportion or in the upper retaining aperture 34 in periods during whichthe valance structur has been removed. It will be appreciated that thegeneral box shape valance structure I8 and the corresponding box shapeddrapery fixture 48 when assembled on the single supporting means 29 or28 mutually contribute to produce a unitary aperture ornamentation whichhas a uniformity of appearance that is striking and pleasing to the eye.

Hanger bracket 29 or 28 is a unitary securing means which positions thetop level of the drapery and curtain materials closely adjacent to thelower surface of the valance structure thereby requiring the smallestpossible length of drapery and curtain materials and yet the bracketfixture is completely hidden by the valance. The two position hangerenables the removal of the valance without disturbing the draperies andcurtains and presents a pleasing appearance even 'in the'absence of thevalance especially when the drapery fixture is positioned in the upperaperture 34.

I claim:

1. A valance supporting structure comprising a pair of brackets eachincluding at least two rodsupporting arms of cantilever construction,extension rods attached to said arms, means incorporated in each bracketfor supporting such arms in vertically spaced substantially horizontalpositions in the same vertical plane and parallel to one another, andalso parallel to a Window opening, includin supporting portionsextending perpendicularly to such arms, such supporting portions beingvertically spaced and positioned conformably to the spacing of such armsand constituting relatively smooth extensions of such arms, whereby atubular valance formed of limp material may be slid over the arms andmay extend continuously over such supporting portions and over saidextension rods attached to such arms.

2. A bracket structure as defined in claim 1 including a hanger bracketto which the said valance supporting structure may be separably attachedand a generally rectangular plate connecting said supporting portions,at least one of said supporting portions constituting the bight sectionof a U-shaped sheet metal member, one arm of said member defining one ofsaid previously mention supporting arms and the other arm of said memberbeing engageable with said hanger bracket.

3. A valance supporting structure consisting of a pair of brackets eachincluding at least two rod-supporting arms of cantilever construction,means incorporated in each bracket for supporting such arms invertically spaced substantially horizontal positions in the samevertical plane and parallel to one another, including supportingportions extending transversely to such arms, such supporting portionsbeing vertically spaced and positioned conformably to the spacing ofsuch arms and constituting relatively smooth extensions of such arms,the upper of said supporting portions being rigidly attached to atransversely extendin supporting arm, said rod-supporting arms beingconnected by extension rods whereby a unitary double U-shaped structureis formed over which a tubular valance may be slid, whereby such avalance may extend continuously over such supporting portions and saidextension rods.

4. A window-type aperture ornamentation structure comprising incombination a valance supporting structure having a generally box shape,a-drapery and curtain fixture having a reduced size and a shapecorresponding to said valance and a hanger bracket demountably receivingand supporting said valance structure and said fixture, said bracketseparating said Valance structure and said fixture, and rigidly engagingthe same whereby the said valance and fixture are prevented fromdisengagement and the said fixture is prevented from rotation.

5. An ornamentation structure as defined in claim 4 wherein the saidbracket is provided with channel means for receiving said valancestructure, said means being accessible from above, and U-shaped meansfor receiving said fixture, said latter means having releasable securingmeans for rigidly locating said fixture therein.

6. An ornamentation structure as defined in claim 4 wherein the saidbracket is provided with channel means for receiving said valancestructure from above, and means for receiving said fixture, said meansconsisting of a tightly bent vertically disposed U-shaped member theinner wall portions of which define an aperture which is intimatelyfilled by said fixture, and a clip surrounding said U shaped memberlocking said fixture in said aperture.

MARY NEALIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,773,590 Mathias Aug. 19, 19301,914,027 Kress June 13, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date165,104 Switzerland June 13, 1933

